Lieutenant General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, made his first visit to Egypt from August 31 to September 1 since taking command in June 2015. During his visit, he met with Air Marshal Younnes Al-Sayed Hamed Al-Masry, the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force, in Cairo.
The discussions between Lieutenant General Brown and Air Marshal Hamed Almasry highlighted the longstanding partnership between the United States and Egypt. They emphasized the importance of Egypt's role as a stabilizing force in the region and discussed how a prosperous, stable, democratic Egypt serves as a defense against terrorism.
Lieutenant General Brown stated, “We value the relationship between our two countries,” and noted that military collaboration is an integral part of their engagement. He also reaffirmed U.S. support for Egypt in its fight against terrorism across Sinai and throughout the country.
American and Egyptian forces engage in various training initiatives and joint military exercises to enhance their skills and capabilities. The United States has recently supplied Egypt with F-16 fighter jets, Apache helicopters, Fast Missile Craft, armored vehicles, and other weapons systems to bolster its military capabilities against terrorism.
The United States Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) operates as part of the United States Central Command. It oversees air operations either independently or alongside partners within a 20-nation area covering Southwest Asia, including countries such as Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.